Transferring hard drives

[heyyoudvd]

Here's the story. I recently built myself a new PC with a 160 gig hard drive (IDE) and transferred to it most of the contents of my old computer. My old one had a 120 gig that's only about 20% full, as well as a secondary 40 gig drive.

Since I've got so little on my old PC (something like 18 gigs) and thus don't need much space there, I'd like to transfer everything from it on to the 40 gig, format the 120 and use it as a secondary on my new PC, where space is vital. So instead of having a 160 and then a (120+40), I'd like to have a (160+120) and then a 40.

The problem is that I've got a lot of important things on the 120 (everything from documents to internet favourites to some music etc...) that I don't want to lose.

Would it be possible to install XP Pro on the 40 gig and then do a complete transfer of absolutely everything from the 120 to the 40?

Thanks.

 

[heyyoudvd]

?

 

[Anonemous]

I guess you could ghost the 120 gig drive (18 gigs of content) using Norton Ghost and then install that image on the 40 gig drive.

 

[heyyoudvd]

I don't have Norton and don't really feel like spending money to do this.
I heard about some process called cloning the hard drive. Any idea how that works?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: heyyoudvd
I don't have Norton and don't really feel like spending money to do this.
I heard about some process called cloning the hard drive. Any idea how that works?

norton ghost CLONES the hard drive. maybe there are trail verions? i don't know any freewares but i only know norton gets the job done nicely. try google

 

[zephyrprime]

Try downloading the seagate disk copying software and using it.

Or, you can just hook up both drives to your new computer and then copy one disk's contents to the other disk. You have to be careful and make sure you get the hidden files or else this won't work.

Or, you could install windows on the 40GB, then transfer file and settings with the Windows Transfer File and Settings wizard.

 

[heyyoudvd]

I decided to choose the 3rd option. I've installed XP Pro but now need to use the TF&S Wizard.

What do I need to know before going through with this? Because it says something about creating a Wizard Disk.